Interview: Getting to Know Monastery Dead (Written)

Monastery Dead are a death metal band of Russian origin formed in 2004. For over two decades they have been causing carnage in the underground, and in this interview, we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Anton M.: Around 1996, I saw the music video for “Fire” by Scooter on TV. That video and their vocalist made such a deep impression on me that I decided I wanted to become a musician too. I asked my parents to enroll me in music school, and since 1997, I’ve been involved in music and moving toward my dream. Right after finishing music school in 2004, I joined my first band. We played live shows and recorded a few studio tracks. After that, I became the vocalist for another band that was active from 2007 to 2011 — and after that, Monastery Dead became a part of my life.

Kirill Z.: Music has followed me since childhood. My mom is a music teacher, and for a while, I even went to music school where I studied piano. Later, in high school and university, I met like-minded friends who, just like me, were into heavy rock music. It felt natural to start some kind of band — and I’ve been trying to make music ever since… at least until I get tired of it.

Kirill T.: Well I’ve spent my childhood in a small town located in Vologda region of Russia and graduated from a music school with a classical guitar class. I think I was something like 14 years old when I met the guys who were listening to metal music I tried to play electric guitar for the first time. My first music attempts were black metal projects as this genre was much more popular than any other among my friends.

Vadim N.: I started getting into music back in school when I bought my first guitar at a pawn shop, and then everything just took off like a snowball. Well, and after that, you all know the rest.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

We believe that the genre death metal perfectly describes the music we create. Jokingly, we can call it “pure death metal” — we strive to take the best elements of classic 90s death metal and blend them with a modern melodic sound, using the latest advancements in musical equipment and techniques.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

At the moment, we’re busy preparing for the release of a new music video. We’ve also finished working on a new 7-track compilation and are getting it ready for release. In addition, we’re in the process of recording a new single and developing the concept for a storyline-based video to go along with it. We usually have a lot on our plate and don’t always manage to do everything on time, but we’re doing our best!

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

Anton M.: Since signing the agreement with Extreme Management Group, things have gotten even busier, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where this collaboration will lead.

Kirill Z.: I’m inspired by my own life, which is constantly in motion — there are so many plans and goals to achieve, both personal/family-related and musical. What worries me the most is the instability of the world we all live in.

Kirill T.: Seems like we start to make something valuable at last, that’s what excites me most.

Vadim N.: The growth of my family excites me the most, and as for music, I feel like we’re reaching a new level, and that inspires me!

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

The band has been around since 2004, and we’ve done so much over the years — it’s hard to even remember it all. After 2012, the lineup changed partially, and things really picked up with new energy. The most important thing we’ve done to get to where we are now is that we never stopped and never gave up. We’ve always tried — and still try — to become better every day and keep moving in the same direction. For each of us, the band is an essential part of our lives and daily routine, and we’re definitely proud to see the progress we’ve made over all these years.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

Anton M.: Making music gives me so much that money can’t buy. Traveling with the band and performing is always an adventure and brings a huge amount of positive emotions that you just can’t get in everyday life. For me as a vocalist, it’s a great way to release emotional tension — it’s probably similar to going into a remote forest and just screaming. And with a new song’s lyrics, I can pour all my feelings out in an artistic way.

Kirill Z.: I’ve always enjoyed playing my instrument — it’s something that constantly inspires me and has a positive impact on both my emotional and physical well-being. It gives me a real boost of energy.

Kirill T.: To tell the truth I never thought about it this way as making music and being creative always was a hard labor for me and the ordeal for my mental health. The positive impact can be a result of positive feedback which is insufficient at the moment in my view. Hopefully the things will change soon.

Vadim N.: Music can be very different. When I create music, I’m completely immersed in the process and detach myself from the outside world — it gives me a sense of inner balance. When I perform music, I feel a kind of abstract freedom. I guess that’s how I’d put it.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

We haven’t had difficulties with creating music. The hardest part these days is promoting the music we’ve already made. As a band from Russia, we currently face many challenges when it comes to promoting our work worldwide. Many tools for international promotion are partially unavailable to us, but we’re actively looking for — and finding — alternative ways.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

As for maintaining a constant online presence — it’s definitely challenging. It’s hard to keep up the pace and make sure there’s at least one new post every week, but we do our best. Over the past couple of months, we’ve kind of found an approach to creating content that works for us, but it’s still not easy. Hopefully, as more things start happening with the band, this part will become more natural. As for likes and follows being the measure of engagement — that’s just the norm in today’s reality, and we’re totally fine with it.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

Anton M.: Making music and everything that comes with it has always brought me joy. Sure, there are emotionally difficult moments that make it hard to enjoy the process, but if I take a short break and let myself breathe, things usually fall back into place and the negativity fades away — in the end, it’s the positive emotions that remain. It’s not like I’ve had to come up with special ways to enjoy or feel satisfied with what I do. Most of the time, I genuinely feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be — right in my element.

Kirill Z.: When creating and coming up with parts for a new song, I always look forward to hearing the final result — that’s the most enjoyable part for me. You show up to rehearsal with your bandmates and start playing, writing, fixing things. The communication, the jokes, and the process of creating something cool always brings positive emotions. It’s that simple.

Kirill T.: As I told before music is a hard labor for me but it seems like I have no choice as to my mind the sense of human existence is to create.

Vadim N.: Writing music is one of the few things that really makes me feel present. There’s something special about getting lost in the process — when ideas start flowing and everything clicks, it’s like time stops. Sure, there are times when inspiration doesn’t come easy, or the mood just isn’t right, but usually that passes. Then comes rehearsal, and that’s a whole different kind of energy — when everyone brings their own piece to the puzzle and suddenly the song starts to breathe. That feeling of connection and creation is what keeps me going.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

If I were to give the standard answer, it would be: follow us on social media and hit the like button. But seriously, the most important thing our listeners can do to support us is to come to our shows, talk about us, share the songs and videos they like with their friends — and of course, follow us on social media, like our posts, and share them!

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

Anton M.: I enjoy spending time with my family, improving my home, and being out in nature, away from large crowds. I love riding my bike and sometimes I play computer games. Overall, it’s pretty normal stuff, I think.

Kirill Z.: I love spending time with my family, going on long walks, watching movies, playing console games, listening to vinyl records, cooking delicious meals, and just enjoying it all.

Kirill T.: Year after year getting older I have less and less time to relax, but I really like camping, cycling, attending raves and live music shows, exhibitions of contemporary art and stuff like this.

Vadim N.: Definitely — it’s getting away from people, preferably somewhere far from civilization. But sometimes it’s nice to go to a big event too, as long as it’s out in a field with tents.

12. Where can people find you?

Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Telegram | Bandcamp | TikTok | Music.Yandex | VK | Dzen